efore a major international piano competition. Lily had been devastated. She had locked hers

been the one to coax her out of her shell. He brought her food,

she finally did. He composed a simple, soothing melody for her, a piece he titled "

to make sure no one ever hurt her like that again. He gave up a prestigious scholarship to a music production program overs

d healed her. He thoug

ure of them at the studio, his hand on her shoulder. A video of them playing a duet, their bodies swaying in perfect

see. Everyone except him, the fool who was too busy w

e would rush to his side after the funeral, that this was all a misunderstanding. Now, he knew it wasn't. What he had with Lily wasn't

, humming the melody from her duet with M

e?" she asked, her tone casual, as i

e things," he sai

, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Her la

ar to meet his best friend, Chris Adams.

Chris asked, his voice

funeral. Mark. The social media posts. The suit

ist on the table, making the glasses ju

for granted. "Remember when you sold your vintage guitar? The one your dad gave you?" Chris's voice was low, seething. "You so

is head. "She

s. She didn't even call to check on you. I was the one who took you to the hospital, man." Chris

ng over there. I'm going to knock

It's not worth it." His voice was calm, devoid of t

his eyes slowly giving way to co

," Ethan sai

ance counter, a place he hadn't visited in years. Lily had always been sensitive to smells. S

of cedar and bergamot. It smelled clean, strong, and completely un

dependence. He was no longer a blank canvas for her to project her desires onto. He was tak